Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has now pinned the blame for Arsenal’s Champions League exit on one player.
Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage this season by Bayern Munich.
In the first-leg at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners were able to grind out a 2-2 draw, thanks to a second half equaliser from Leandro Trossard.
However, Mikel Arteta will feel that his side ought to have taken more from that match. Arsenal were at fault for both of the goals they conceded, and their defensive unit struggled to cope with the pace of Leroy Sane.
Arsenal ace Jakub Kiwior exposed by Bayern Munich
Left-back Jakub Kiwior, in particular, was clearly uncomfortable with having to deal with the winger, and came off second best in that contest.
The Polish defender is a centre-back by trade, but emerged as a solid left-back option this season when the Gunners suffered something of an injury crisis in that part of the pitch. When the 24-year-old was first called upon to cover at full-back, he impressed.
It was even suggested that Kiwior had done enough to make himself the first-choice pick for Arsenal in that position. However, up against truly top class opposition in Europe’s elite club competition, he looked out of his depth.
He has since slipped back down the pecking order, following Takehiro Tomiyasu’s return to fitness. The Japanese defender played at left-back in the second-leg of this contest, but could not prevent the North London club from slumping to a 1-0 defeat at the Allianz Arena and subsequently being dumped out of the competition.
Jamie Carragher blames Jakub Kiwior for Arsenal Champions League failure
Jamie Carragher is now convinced that the Gunners truly lost control of the tie on home soil, though, and has laid the blame for that at Kiwior’s feet.
Speaking on CBS Sports (30/04/2024), he said “The reason Bayern Munich have beat Arsenal is because Arsenal had a defender in the first leg – Kiwior – who was not at the level. He cost them, he cost Arsenal in that first leg.”
This is perhaps a harsh statement. After all, Kiwior was hooked by Arteta at half-time in that match, and didn’t feature in the second-leg at all. The Gunners had plenty of time to turn things around.
Ahead of this quarter-final clash, Carragher stated that he expected Arsenal to beat Bayern Munich. In truth, though, the German giants had too much experience and nous for the Gunners, who had not reached this stage in the tournament in the previous 14 years.
Kiwior, and the rest of his Arsenal teammates, will have learned from this continental experience and will be determined to come back stronger next season.
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